Victoria, Australia – The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has fined Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group (ALH) $38,000 after multiple incidents involving minors accessing poker machine areas at three of its venues in 2024.
The fine was issued by the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria, where ALH pleaded guilty to six charges related to underage access and gambling. The company self-reported the breaches—a step VGCCC CEO Suzy Neilan acknowledged as a sign of integrity and cooperation. However, she emphasized that venues must act proactively, not just reactively.
“Taking responsibility is commendable,” Neilan said, “but gambling operators must implement proper systems, procedures, and well-trained staff to prevent minors from entering restricted gaming areas.”
Incidents at Three Venues
The breaches occurred across three hotels:
- Cramers Hotel (Preston): A 17-year-old gained repeated access to the gaming area without being asked for ID on 24 January 2024 and only drew staff intervention the following day.
- Excelsior Hotel (Thomastown): On 24 April 2024, a child accompanying two adults entered the gaming room and interacted with a poker machine before being escorted out.
- Mountain View Hotel (Glen Waverley): A 14-year-old was able to enter and use a poker machine on 27 September 2024 before staff stepped in.
Ms Neilan stressed that some venues were “repeat offenders” and called on all Victorian clubs and hotels to review their operations and staff training programs.
“Operators should conduct risk assessments and apply robust safeguards,” she added. “That means ID checks for anyone appearing under 25 and clear signage to reinforce age restrictions.”
Legal and Financial Penalties
In addition to the $38,000 fine (issued without conviction), ALH has been ordered to pay $40,000 in legal costs to the VGCCC. The presiding magistrate noted that, had ALH not entered a guilty plea, the fine could have reached $90,000 with a recorded conviction.
Charges Summary
Cramers Hotel
- Charge 1: Minor entering gaming area
- Charge 2: Allowing a minor to gamble
Excelsior Hotel
- Charge 3: Minor entering gaming area
- Charge 4: Allowing a minor to gamble
Mountain View Hotel
- Charge 5: Minor entering gaming area
- Charge 6: Allowing a minor to gamble
The VGCCC reaffirmed its commitment to monitoring and prosecuting breaches but reiterated that “prevention is better than cure.” Operators are encouraged to tighten protocols and reinforce staff accountability to maintain public trust and uphold the law.
